Easy Steps On How To Get A Schengen Visa (In the UK)

Getting a Schengen Visa from the UK is very straight forward.

I first applied for my Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa when I still held a spouse visa permit and Philippine passport here in the UK. I will share with you on how I did the whole application process and requirements for Schengen visa.

What is Schengen Visa?

By the definition given by the European Commission, the Schengen visa is a short stay visitor visa (C visa) needed to travel freely within the Schengen States for 90 days in any 180 days period.

Who needs to apply for Schengen Visa?

The passport holders of Schengen State members are not required to apply for a Schengen visa when travelling within the Schengen countries.

List of the countries who need to apply for Schengen visa.

As for the Airport transfers visa within the Schengen states, the passport holders of these countries would need to secure a Schengen visa to change planes (connecting flights) within the Schengen countries.

If you are a spouse of an EEA/EU citizen, you are still required to apply for a Schengen visa. However, it will be a lot easier. Just like what I did, when I applied for my multiple entry Schengen visa.

Schengen Visa fees?

The visa fees for the Schengen Short stay visa is €60 (adult) and €35 (child). As for EEA/EU family, the visa application is free.

Requirements for Schengen Visa (Tourist – C Visa)

Current and valid passport. The passport should have at least 3-month validity before your departure.

Your current UK Visa / Biometric ID. To prove that you have the right to remain in the UK.

A copy of your flight itinerary. Do not book your flight yet, without a visa. You can print the proposed flight itinerary in any flight booking or airline websites.

A sample suggested travel itinerary. You don’t have to be very detailed, just state the date of your travel and destination. Include in your itinerary your travel dates! As this will be counted as DAY 1.

Travel insurance is a must whenever you travel. This is one of the important requirements when you apply for Schengen visa. Read the terms of your policy carefully. Make sure that you are covered for any medical and emergency hospitalisation and expatriations back to the UK or your home country.

8. Proof of your accommodation. Hotel reservations for the whole duration of your trip to the Schengen States. If a friend or relatives invite you, a formal invitation letter together with their supporting documents are needed.

9. Money, (of, course). You need to prove that you can sustain your travel using your funds. There are different proof of funding required for your Schengen destination. 6-month bank statements would be ideal to submit as well.

10. Certificate of employment and payslips. If you are self-employed, you have to submit your tax return or proof of income and business registration.

If you are on a UK spouse visa, Permanent Resident (ILR) as a Spouse of a British /EEA/EU citizen and would like to apply under the EEA/EU family member, you only have to submit the following:

A copy of your marriage certificate

A copy of the Bio page of your EEA/EU spouse.

Your spouse should sign the Schengen application to prove that he is acknowledging that you are a family member and the main sponsor of the Schengen visa.

When I submitted my application, I didn’t even include the majority of the requirements mentioned above.

If you are currently holding an EEA/EU Family Residential card, you won’t have to apply for a Schengen visa. You can travel freely within the EU/Schengen States under the free movement policy.

Where to apply for my Schengen visa in the UK?

The majority of the Schengen visa applications are processed by VFS Global. You have to submit your Schengen Visa application to the Schengen State Embassy of your European destination with the longest duration of your trip or if it’s your only destination. Here is the list of the Schengen States Embassies in London.

Danish Embassy also processes Schengen visa for Iceland. Danish Embassy also processes visa application for Greenland and Faroe islands, however, the Schengen visa is not valid. There is an additional visa that you have to secure that strictly says “Valid for Greenland” and “Valid for the Faroe Islands”.

Good luck on your Schengen Visa application!

If you have any questions, please leave it in the comment box below.

Please join my mailing list to receive the latest news and updates. Promise! NO SPAM emails. I hate them too!

Thank you for subscribing! Let's keep in touch. :-)

Share:

Rate:

Disclaimer:

This blog post contains affiliate links with no extra costs to you. However, the few pence that I will get will help me to run this website. Words and opinions on this article are my own. Please visit my disclosure page for more info.

Amazon Associates Program Disclosure:

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

About The Author

She is named after a Russian city near Moscow. The Miss Zan-shine of Everything Zany. She likes to travel, history, meet people & try exotic foods! Planning to explore more countries with her D.I.Y trips as a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina). Explore, discover and learn.

Unfortunately, not all passports are created equal. So some expats who are here in the UK under Non-European passport would still need to acquire a Schengen Visa when they want to travel around the Continental Europe. Same goes for the people who are in the continent and would like to visit the UK.

I’m so glad to be European and I don’t have to apply for this visa to visit beautiful Europe 🙂 haha But to anyone who is not European – I encourage you to apply for this visa if you want to visit Europe , it’s worth every effort 🙂

Being English, I wasn’t aware of this type of Visa because of our freedom of movement within European countries – However with Brexit looming we might need to apply for these visa’s in the future. This post will be very helpful though for a number of friends I have from outside the Europe who may be looking for multi entry visa’s – I’ll be passing this post on 😀

Such a detailed and useful post for getting a Schengen visa in the UK. I am from India and very well understand how tough and stringent the norms are for Schengen visa. Hope to travel to Europe in 2018.

Very helpful. Im planning to have a two-week vacation in 4 states. If my first port is italy and i will stay there for 5 days then france and stay for 6 days, where should I apply for a visa? In the italian or french consulate? Im a PhD student here in Scotland, are they strict with students? Thanks so much.

Thank you, Kevin! 🙂 You should apply to get your Schengen visa in French Consulate. They are not so particular with Students as long as you have proper documentation (e.g. School docs and itinerary) and money to show you can support yourself during your trip. Good Luck! xx

As i live in the West Contry are there any application centre’s that are not in London or that we can apply to by post ? A round trip to London is almost 600 miles. My Turkish husband has FLR so has residency here Any help would be greatfully recieved

Hi Lyn, It depends which Schengen country you are going, some consulates have branches in other UK main cities like Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. If you are applying for the first time, most likely you have to pay a visit to one of their office to give your fingerprints as part of the application process. Since your husband only has an FLR status here in the UK, you need to apply as a regular tourist visa. Only spouse of British citizen and EU/EEA can able to apply in a simplified process.

Hi, my family are currently in the uk on tourist visa until Feb. 15, 2018. We are holding Philippine passports. Is it possible for us to apply Schengen visa in London to visit Schengen region. Which embassy in London will allow applications. Hope you can help. Thanks

Hi Gloria, it is possible but under very special circumstances. You need to call the embassy to explain the situation. 🙂 Good luck! Normally, their rule is you can apply the visa 3 months before your propose travel date.

The documents that you would need will be most likely the same as the tourist application but you would also require a letter from your school saying that you are on leave or school holiday during your trip. You also have to state their the resume of your classes etc. It’s good if you can have this on a school letterhead. You can also include the some proof that you are a student here in the UK e.g. school ID, enrollment confirmation etc.

The typical application period will be the 3 months prior to your travel dates. Good luck!

Your travel insurance should cover your health insurance when you travel. As long as the insurance cover will comply with the terms of the embassy you are applying, you should be ok. You can apply your visa 15 days prior to your visit, but sometimes processing period will be 2 to 3 weeks.

Hi, I just want to confirm couple of things, 1. We don’t need to book the tickets but just give print of itinerary. 2. Is it also valid for accommodation or do we need to book it and give final confirmation?

Awesome website and materials, thank you so much. I have been asked to provide a ‘certified translation’ from A UK company of my Thai marriage certificate for my wife. Do you have any ideas of certified companies that do this please in the UK.

Hi Ryazan, that was a very informative guide. Thanks a lot for this one, much appreciated!

A few quick questions, though:

1) I would like to visit Europe multiple times over the next 6 months for tourism; different countries every time. However, the first visit will be to France. What is the additional thing that I need to do in my Visa application for this? Do I need to enter France first, every time then?

2) Will a bus ticket from the UK to Paris get accepted instead of a flight itinerary?

3) Can you please recommend some good websites for the ‘flexible accommodation’ that you have suggested?

You don’t have to visit France every time you will visit another Schengen state provided that your visa is valid with Multiple entries. The bus ticket from the UK to Paris will be ok as well, as long as you have the return journey.

Hi Ryazan, It’s very informative. I have one question though, is there any required month/s since you have had your residence card before you can apply for a Schengen visa? For instance, I’ve had mine for just a month or so, am I qualified to apply for it? Will be much appreciated if you can answer this for me. Thanks!

Thank you for your detailed description of the Schengen Visa application processes.

I will be taking some time in February 2018 to visit four (4) European countries and I am certain that my first port of call will be France, would you please suggest other 3 countries, I can visit – based on ‘interesting things to do’ in each of the countries?

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

COMMENT

Name *

Email *

Website

ABOUT ME

Hi! I'm Ryazan! The Miss ZAN-shine behind this blog. I'm a dual citizen (British - Filipina) living in the UK. I share stories and helpful tips about the best of both worlds.

DONATE NOW!

Cool Stuff!

Looking For Something?

Amazon Associates Program Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.